The Archbishop of Canterbury will issue a plea today for the Church of England to "challenge fear" within its ranks as new legislation to introduce women bishops looks on course to gain approval later this year.

The Most Rev Justin Welby is due to say that there needs to be a "cultural change" in the life of the Church to build love and trust between opposing groups.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will address the General Synod today. Credit: Press Association

"We have agreed and God willing we follow this through over the next few months until it is part of an agreed measure, that we will ordain women as bishops," he will say in his presidential address to the General Synod.

"At the same time we have agreed that while doing that, we want all parts of the Church to flourish. If we are to challenge fear we have to find a cultural change in the life of the Church, in the way our groups and parties work, sufficient to build love and trust."

The Anglican church has appointed Rev Pat Storey as the UK and Ireland's first woman bishop. The rector of St Augustine's in Derry, has been elected by the Church of Ireland as the new Bishop of Meath and Kildare.

Rev Pat Storey, rector of St Augustine's in Derry, who has been elected by the Church of Ireland as the new Bishop of Meath and Kildare. Credit: The Church of Ireland /PA Wire

The married mother of two, who grew up in Belfast, said she was both "excited and daunted" by the historic appointment.

"I have had an extraordinarily happy experience in St Augustine's and in this wonderful city, which I will be sad to leave," she said.